HOW IMPORTANT IS GOD TO YOU AND HOW DOES HE FIT INTO YOUR SCHEDULE?
Hi all. Time for another article inspired by the Holy Spirit, to all teenagers out there. I start with a funny, which has a great truth in it.
Jamie: “God how long is a million years to you?”
God: “It is but a second Jamie.”
Jamie: “God, how much is a million dollars to you?”
God: “It is but a penny to me.”
Jamie: “God can I have a penny?”
God: “Just a second.”
In this article I would like to discuss the following topics:
- How important is God to you?
- What is your number 1 priority?
- Is God actually real?
- How does God fit into your schedule?
1. How important is God to you?
Matthew 6:33 says that we should first seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all other things will be given to you as well. So why is God important? A lot of people ask this, especially non-believers that are curious, but, can we as Christians actually answer the question? If I was to come to you right now and ask, why is God important, what would you say? The answer is simple; God is important because he exists. As easy as that. Whether you believe in God or not, He is real. Go and stand at the peak of the Grand Canyon or at the top of the Iguazu Falls and then tell me how you can look at something so majestic and breathe-taking and not believe there is a God that made it?
Another simple answer is God gives a purpose to life. If you think about it, in our religion the purpose in life is to serve God, right? So how about if God didn’t exist? What would be the purpose in life? There wouldn’t be any. It would be growing up, working, making money, having a family and then eventually die. In John 14:6 God says: “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Now, either you believe or you don’t; but if you believe in God and you say He isn’t that important, then there is something really wrong!
2. What is your number 1 priority?
My second question to you is, what is your number 1 priority in life? Is it to grow up and become famous, to be rich, playing Xbox all day or watching Netflix with a hot girl/boyfriend beside you? The answer is debateable and differs from person to person. However, for me, there should actually only be one answer to this question. Yes, sometimes we kind of forget the answer or we just lose focus, but the real and only valid answer to that question is that God should be our number 1 priority. Yes, we can enjoy ourselves but nothing should be more important than God. The Bible says in Romans 8:31 – 32, that if my God is for me, who can be against me, and that He who did not spare his own Son, but gave Him up for all of us, how will He not also, along with His son, graciously give us all things? However, He wants to be our first priority.
Now it is pretty clear that we are important to God right? I bet we are His biggest priority, I mean we are His children and there is nothing He wouldn’t do for us. How can we not dare to say the same, be able to leave everything we love behind and make Him our first priority? Whether you are a top sports player and everyone wants to be you, or the smartest kid in class and everyone is jealous of your grades; that sport or grades that you put everything into, should not be your top priority, no matter how important it is to you.
3. Is God actually real?
Now here comes the fun part. The biggest question I have for you now and probably the biggest question the world has; IS GOD REAL? It is actually an easy question isn’t it? The answer can only be yes or yes! God is real! I mean come on, how can He not be? When someone asks me, how I know He is real, my answer is simple; I talk to Him, I can hear Him, I can feel His presence and feel His power flow through me. Now, if I was the only person in the world that could say this, then you can call me a crazy person. However, I am only one of millions if not billions of people that can say this with an honest heart.
I want to share something. When I was in primary school I was bullied and experienced many health and other challenges. In Grade 12, I had to move to a new country, make new friends, learn a third new language and complete my Grade 12 in English, which is not my first language either. I made it because I gave everything to God and He saved me, helped me and guided me. That is why I know, God is real.
Yes, there were many times that I did not hear God and become doubtful. There were times when I questioned Him and did not get a reply. Now, this happens to a lot of people and that is where they lose their faith. We easily say that God doesn’t exist because He doesn’t answer us, but can’t silence be an answer as well? This happened to me and I only found out about this answer a few months ago and let me tell you; wow, the explosion that took place in my head.
You see if we’re telling ourselves that we don’t hear God, or that we don’t feel God’s presence or power, the fault doesn’t lie with Him. It never did and never will, because God is perfect. If there is something wrong, then the problem is with us! If you can’t find the problem don’t just say, “Meh, it’s okay, I kind of believe He is real but I’m not that religious.” To me, that is a load of nonsense.
The Lord says in Revelations 3:14 – 16: “These are the words of the Amen the faithful and the true witness, the ruler of God’s creations. I know your deeds, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one of the other. So because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Now, we can all interpret this easily but it says right here that if you live that meh kind of Christian life, then you will not go to heaven and you will not live in God’s Kingdom.
So don’t live that kind of life. You either live for God, or you don’t; you make the choice. However, remember if you decide not to live a full Christian life, then rather don’t call yourself a Christian. I am not judging, I am saying that if you say you are a Christian, you should not be abusing alcohol till 3:00 in the morning or misuse the human physical pleasures that God has given you.
I want to raise something that I don’t understand and it is not to judge anyone or make someone look bad. Many people say “Oh My God” and not in a prayer. People do it in the movies and almost everywhere. The thing is, even Christians are doing it, because they see no fault in it. However, the Bible says clearly in Exodus 20:7 that “you shall not misuse the name of your God for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses that name.” This is one of the 10 commandments and seen as one of the biggest sins, as it is blasphemy. I encourage you to remove these words from your vocabulary, unless you are praying or really talking to God.
Also, if you hear others around you use it wrongly, don’t just stand there and let it slide, because then you are just as guilty as them. You don’t have to be harsh or judge, but simply alert them to the fact that they are calling out to God. What my family and I started doing is to reply Amen when people say it and then they would just stare at us or ask why we say Amen. The answer then, is that we are simply ending off their short prayer. As easy as that. Many think it is cool or in fashion when using the Lord’s name, but in fact it’s not. It is wrong! This is a really big thing and I encourage all of you to take charge and make a difference.
4. How does God fit into your schedule?
I want to end off by asking one last question. How does God fit into your schedule? We often find ourselves consumed with other things like work, school, television and other fun stuff to fill up our schedules. Nothing wrong with having fun, but when in your schedule is it God’s time? On average, and even I’m guilty of it, people spend maybe an hour of a day with God; a little bit of time in the morning and a little bit at night. If so, we then only give 1 out of 24 hours every day to our God, our Father.
People say they have very busy schedules and that they don’t have time for God. I don’t think this is true. When you walk/ride to school, do your homework or even while you are eating, you can spend time with God. I’m not saying that you have to sit constantly with a Bible beside you or that you must go into deep and lengthy conversations with God every time you talk with Him; but a prayer, a thought, a moment with God builds a relationship with Him and pleases Him. Remember, God already knows everything, but He wants your heart and your time because He wants to have a relationship with you.
With everything we do in life, we must do it for God because when you are doing something that does not glorify God, then it is not worth doing. Now bear with me. This doesn’t mean you can’t play Xbox or hang out with the girls at the mall. It means that when you do it, do it to the glory of God, as He should be your everything. Also, don’t be shy about serving the Lord Jesus Chris for in Matthew 10:32 it says: “Those who acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in Heaven, but those who disowns me before others, I too will disown before my father in heaven.”
In summary, we can’t use the excuse of not having time for God. Make time, for He should be the number 1 priority in our lives, before anything else. How would you feel if you prayed to God and He said: Oops I’m sorry, I’m a bit busy and I don’t have time for you? Now, would that not be devastating?
Father, in Jesus name help us to always make you our first priority, because You are God! In Jesus Name! Amen!
Rhino
